But Mr. Canning had many generous qualities. I remember his once saying in the House of Commons that his foreign policy was contained in one word — "England." He saw that, with all my defects, I had served England faithfully and zealously, and all party differences were forgotten the moment he saw me. Our conversation was therefore short, and to the purpose. On receiving my letter from Malta, he had instantly sent me full powers to open a negociation for peace with the Porte, but the frigate which brought them out crossed the Superb on her voyage home. He now proposed to me to return, and open the negociation. My answer was, that as he was aware of my party principles and engagements, he must give me leave first to consult my friends. Mr. Canning complied without hesitation, and the result was that I accepted the mission under an express agreement, that after having made the peace, I should be at liberty to return home, and resume my seat on the Opposition benches of the House of Commons. He then asked me what instructions I wished to take out in addition to those which he had sent to Sir Arthur Paget. It will be seen by my Vienna letters, that before my departure from thence, some hope had presented itself of breaking up the French and Russian alliance, the chief basis of which, as Count Stadion had informed me, was the pursuit of a common system in the affairs of European Turkey. I knew that some angry discussions on other points had already taken place at Paris between Count Tolstoy and the French Government, and it appeared to me that if, after settling our own concerns with the Porte, a peace could be effected between that Power and Russia without French intervention, there would be a fair chance for Europe of dissolving that unnatural but most formidable compact. I proposed, therefore, to Mr. Canning to add a clause to my instructions, directing me to become the mediator of such a peace, without referring home for specific powers, if an opportunity for making it should occur. He readily adopted the suggestion, and added the requisite clause. But this was not all. It will be seen by the same letters* that I had not left my post without establishing a correspondence through which our friendly intercourse with Austria might be resumed whenever it could be done without danger to her. On my way home I had learned at Gibraltar the gallant resistance begun by Spain to the French invasion; and soon afterwards we heard that fresh exactions and aggressions were provoking the Austrian Government to stand up once more against her tyranny. Mr. Canning was of course anxious to seize this opportunity of re-establishing, if possible, our relations with Austria, and he authorised me to make the attempt through the channel which was open for it. I wrote in consequence to Count Stadion the letter which will be found in page 6. of the present publication. It was too early to propose the measure directly, so it was done under cover of an invitation to assist us by his good offices in our impending negociation with the Porte. *Mission to Vienna, p. 265. A renewal of hostilities with France, on the part of Austria, must necessarily lead to the re-establishment of our diplomatic relations with her. Mr. Canning, therefore, when he gave me my credentials to the Porte, authorised me, when I should reach Malta and learn the general state of affairs, to decide upon the course most advisable to be taken for the public service whether to proceed at once to the Dardanelles and restore peace, or to make my way to Vienna, where a commission would be sent me to re-establish in due form our relations with that Court, and to resume my functions there. I chose the former as the more urgent. This is the whole and the very simple history of my appointment to the embassy at Constantinople. It will be seen by the despatches of 1809, that on the breaking out of fresh hostilities between France and Austria, it was in contemplation to form a treaty of triple alliance between England, Austria, and the Porte. With the ratification of our treaty of peace with the Porte, and his Majesty's permission to resign that embassy, credentials were sent me for the Court of Vienna. But the sad events which had taken place before their arrival made it impossible to make use of them. The French armies were already in possession of Vienna, and it was as much as I could do to keep my ground at the Porte, and secure the exchange of the ratifications. The peace itself, indeed, appeared so little safe for some time after these disasters, that I thought it my duty to remain there beyond the time of my announced departure, and to do my best to confirm and consolidate it. The general state of Europe also, especially the danger to the House of Austria from the measures in course of execution to give effect to the Russian and French alliance, induced me to stay, and endeavour to effect some diversion in her favour by occupying the Russian forces, which had marched into Galicia, and were assembling on her eastern frontier of Transylvania. European Turkey was then the only spot on the Continent from whence England could assist the House of Austria, and I was anxious to turn my position at the Porte to the best account. But the marriage of the Arch-Duchess with Napoleon was more efficacious. Sad extremity for the House of Hapsburg! but unavoidable after the treaty of Tilsit. After this a long and dangerous illness detained me at Constantinople until the July of the following year. I then returned, to resume my place on the Opposition benches of the House of Commons, where I remained until the dissolution of Parliament in 1812. R. A. CONTENTS Difficulties in the way of its negociation. (H. M. S. Superb, Spithead, May 24. 1808.)- Letter to Consultation with Lord Collingwood-Position of England towards Russia-Expedition against Corfu and the neigh- bouring islands Ali Pacha. (Hyperion, off Cadiz, July 13. 1808.) Improved aspect of Spanish affairs M. Robertoni - His Sicilian Majesty - Regency of Spain. (Gibraltar, July 16. 1808.) Endeavour to ascertain the intentions of Turkey respecting the peace. (Palermo, Aug. 30. 1808.) Despatch of Mr. Barthold to England for further instructions. |